BIG NA Fall Fling Book Sale & My Dragon's Game Cover Reveal

Hey, gang! Very exciting day for me as I finally get to take the wraps off the cover of my latest Moonsongs book! But first, I want to share an opportunity to snag some awesome New Adult reads on the cheap...

Several New Adult authors (me included) have teamed up to offer their titles for free or a heavily discounted price over the next few days (October 15-18, specifically).

If you're not familiar with New Adult (think "what's next" after YA and before adult) or are just looking to grow your NA library, this is definitely a can't miss event! And the fantastic thing about this sale is that it offers a wide sampling of genres within New Adult. 

You'll find paranormal romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and more!

The New Adult authors/books taking part in the Fall Fling are:

EJ Wesley

Moonsongs Anthology 1

http://www.amazon.com/Moonsongs-Anthology-1-ebook/dp/B00D020MOO

Faith Sullivan

Heartbeat
http://www.amazon.com/Heartbeat-ebook/dp/B00B4Y9296
Come What May
http://www.amazon.com/Come-What-May-Heartbeat-ebook/dp/B00CZTC3PY
Take Me Now
http://www.amazon.com/Take-Me-Now-ebook/dp/B00DVS8ZT6
Unexpected
http://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-ebook/dp/B00C112I7O

Victoria Smith

The Space Between
http://www.amazon.com/The-Space-Between-ebook/dp/B00BO1AZGI

The Crimson Hunt

http://www.amazon.com/Crimson-Eldaen-Light-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00A3MJO02
Holiday Fling
http://www.amazon.com/Holiday-Fling-ebook/dp/B00ACRRM5M

Carrie Butler

Strength
http://www.amazon.com/Strength-Mark-of-Nexus-ebook/dp/B00EMGAS46

Lynn Rush

Frostbite
http://amzn.to/17S3I2X
Wasteland
http://amzn.to/wz4miA
Awaited
http://amzn.to/Pbfb32
Tainted
http://amzn.to/W0KqQW
Violet Midnight
http://amzn.to/SafFZY
Violet Dawn
http://amzn.to/XOBwXk
Violet Storm
http://amzn.to/1bSjwnr

Jaycee DeLorenzo

The Truths about Dating and Mating
http://www.amazon.com/Truths-about-Dating-Mating-ebook/dp/B00AAOCX2E

For more on my part, scroll to the bottom of this post!

Now for the cover reveal...

*drumroll*

Available Monday, October 22nd!

Jenny Moonsong recently inherited the title of "monster hunter" and an ancient tribal journal/how-to manual passed down by her Apache ancestors. She has already faced a werewolf, witches, and a troll. But nothing could prepare her for her latest confrontation...

Dragon's Game, Moonsongs Book 4, finds Jenny out of her rural West Texas element, searching for an evil witch in an urban Houston nightclub. After attempting to help a handsome and mysterious stranger out of a jam, she finds herself on the run from a ruthless gang who are even more dangerous than they initially appear.

Forced into a twisted game of life and death, Jenny must navigate the complexity of a budding relationship, and somehow survive a night filled with unexpected horror and paranormal mystery.

Dragon's Game is approximately 14,000 words or 45 pages, and is the fourth volume of the Moonsongs Books, an ongoing series of New Adult, speculative / urban fantasy novelettes by author E.J. Wesley.

(These stories contain language and content better suited for readers 17+)

***

I'd appreciate it if you could add Dragon's Game to your Goodreads shelf! It will 'officially' go on sale October 22nd at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. (But I won't guarantee you won't find it before then if you care to look. :)

New Adult Fall Fling Deal: And remember, for a limited time you can catch up on the entire Moonsongs series for just .99 cents (regularly $2.99)!

Moonsongs Anthology 1 (books 1, 2, & 3) is on sale October 15th - 20th at Amazon!

Is There Freedom In Writing?

Hey, gang! First, I want say thank you (SO much) for all of the encouragement and well-wishes left on my last post. Oklahoma is hard at work on the recovery process, and I've read so many extraordinary stories of people coming to aid those in need from loved ones on Facebook.

Authors Helping Oklahoma

Along those lines, I know many of you are authors and looking for a way to contribute. I recently learned of a group of authors on Facebook who are putting together a book auction with proceeds going toward tornado relief. The effort is being spearheaded by our own Shelly Arkon, and they are currently still accepting book donations from authors who want to help. (They are also accepting general donations with all monies generated going to the American Red Cross.)

You can check it out here. 

Together At Last!

In my own writing news, I've just released the first Moonsongs Anthology. It collects the first three Moonsongs books (Blood Fugue, Witch's Nocturne, & Dark Prelude) in one volume. 

BLURB: Jenny Schmidt is a young woman with old heartaches. A small town Texas girl with big city attitude, she just doesn’t fit in. Not that she has ever tried...

Her life is thrown into chaos when she receives a message from her thought-to-be-dead grandfather, Billy Moonsong. After meeting with him, Jenny learns that her Apache ancestors were feared monster hunters on the plains of West Texas, and that she is next in line to take up the mantle.

Suddenly, she has a purpose and direction in life, but will she live long enough to fully realize it?

The Moonsongs Anthology 1 collects the first three Moonsongs books--a series of New Adult paranormal-horror-action novelettes--in one exciting volume. Follow Jenny and her best friend Marshal on their dangerous quest to unlock the secrets of her past.

Moonsongs Anthology 1 collects the three previously published Moonsongs adventures: Blood Fugue (Book 1), Witch's Nocturne (Book 2), and Dark Prelude (Book 3).

The three stories combined are approximately 154 pages or 47,000 words. Also included in the anthology is exclusive access to Jenny's own secret monster hunting journal. An account--in her own colorful words--of what she has faced so far, and a few tips for the next Moonsong huntress who might come along.

The anthology is available digitally at Amazon and Barnes & Noble for $2.99. 

If you're curious about the series, the first book, Blood Fugue, has now gone permanently free on Amazon.

Is There Freedom In Writing?

There are many misconceptions about what writers do, and how the writing process takes place. Many folks think writers are dizzy daydreamers, caught up in one fanciful thought after another, and that we simply sit at our computers and crank out story after story.

There's also this myth about the boundless freedom--both in practice and spirit--that all writer's must surely posses. Yes, writers must live in a land of rainbows and no fences, racing up one grass-covered hill just to roll down into another flower-filled meadow below.

Here's the thing: There are points in writing that feel extremely confining. Down right suffocating, in fact. Mentally, it probably has more in common with a darkened, 5x5 ft cell with no doors you'd see in one of those SAW horror movies than an endless, sunlit vista. 

You have to commit a staggering amount of time to a single project if you plan on seeing it become fit for public consumption. You'll likely have to forfeit many important and fun things in your personal life to enjoy writing success. 

You'll read the same story a thousand times, live in the same character's head for months and months, and have most of your idol thoughts devoured by trying to fill the same damned plot hole you had when you started the project two years prior. (The writing and story are better, but the plot hole remains... always.) 

In writing, you have to have the mentality of a parent: You gave birth to that story, and will only be parted from it when it grows up and leaves you, or someone pries it from your cold, dead hands. 

So I'd argue there's very little freedom in writing. At least in the sense people think... But there is power in it. 

You eventually learn how to tell a story, and tell it in only the way you can. The more you write, the more you'll learn how to use the various tools and tricks to elicit a desired feeling in the reader. And there's power in that control. 

Once you know how to share and evoke emotion with words, you'll start to feel like you could tell any story, and take readers to the incredible places you thought only existed in your own head. 

But as Uncle Ben once told Peter Parker, with great power comes great responsibility, and that responsibility is choosing how to spend your writing time. Assuming you don't have an infinite amount of it, you'll have to decide which project gets your attention.

So I ask you: Do you feel completely free in your writing? How do you go about choosing your next project? If you're published, do your readers choose them for you? If you're unpublished, do you let your inspiration carry you?

~EJW~

Interviews & Blood Fugue Is Free Today

Hey gang! Just a very quick note to give a couple of Moonsongs tour updates:

Today I'm over at Candace's Book Blog for an in-depth interview. I talk about Indie Vs Traditional publishing, dealing with reviews, the Moonsongs covers, and more. You can check it HERE.

Candace runs a massive book blog with reviews, giveaways, etc., so it's a great one-stop-shop for book lovers. Plus, she's my tour organizer, and I can tell you there's not a bigger supporter of authors and good books out there. Definitely check her out.

It's a double stop day, so I'm also over at Free eBooks Daily for another interview. This one is shorter, but was a lot of fun. I got to talk about my favorite aspect of the Moonsongs books. (Those of you who've read them, can you guess? :) You can read it HERE.

If you HAVEN'T read the books yet, here's your chance to try the first one, Blood Fugue, for free on Kindle. It'll stay free all day, and I'd be honored to have you give it a read. (It's a novella, and a fast read to boot, so it might be the perfect thing for a bit of quick weekend fun/distraction.)

You can snag your free copy HERE, and as always, if you know of people who enjoy paranormal, horror, New Adult literature, and/or action packed reads, I'd love for you to share this with them.

Hope you all had a great Valentine's Day and have a better weekend,

~EJW~

Just In Time - Overcoming Adversity Bloghop

Hey gang! Hope everyone survived their Super Bowl parties and weekend. :-) Busy day for me today, so let's get to it.

First: Today is the launch of my ginormous blog tour. The first stop is at the incredible Books & Things blog. (If you're a reader, you need to follow this blog!) I've written a short guest post about the Native American themes in the Moonsongs stories, and shared a short excerpt from Witch's Nocturne (Moonsongs book 2). Plus, there's a giveaway. You can check it HERE.

Second: Speaking of the Moonsongs stories, the first in the series, Blood Fugue is free today only on Amazon. If you haven't picked up a copy yet, I'd be honored if you'd add me to your TBR pile. Also, if you know fans of paranormal, action, and/or horror, I'd appreciate you sharing this with them. You can get it HERE.

Third: Today is the start of the Overcoming Adversity bloghop. Basically, our blog/writing buddy Nick Wilford is trying to raise money to send his stepson to a special school. You can read all about the effort HERE.

In short, Nick asked bloggers & writers to share a short poem, essay, or flash-fiction piece based on the theme "Overcoming Adversity." I chose flash fiction, because frankly, I suck at poetry. Nick is going to compile all of the entries into a book to use for fundraising.

Before I get to my contribution, I want to say: Nick, I hope this helps in some small way. We're all pulling for Andrew, and I'm honored to be a part of this.

Here's my story:

Photo courtesy of Cellar_Door_Films, WANA Commons

Just In Time by E.J. Wesley

“Excuse me. I’m in a bit of hurry, sorry.”

Benjamin smiled, but was afraid the gesture displayed as more of a grimace. His knees ached, even though he’d just barely gotten off the bus. He stepped aside, letting the woman pass.

What else is left for men my age to do but to step aside and let things pass?

He hadn’t seen her come up behind him, but now that he had a good look, he wasn’t surprised.

A tight bun of auburn hair stood at attention atop her head. A dreary-hued knit suit hugged her body in a grip of fierce practicality. Her purse, a very reasonable shade of red, was wedged under her arm with military precision. Clock coils were wound less tightly.

Yet clocks never seemed to run out of time, did they?

Benjamin continued down the sidewalk, vaguely aware of his cane’s tapping announcement of each of his shuffling steps. His movement created its own sort of rhythmic clock ticking—the tick, tock replaced by click, scuff—as he went.

At last he came to an ironwork fence. Pausing, he sucked down a few gulps of the cool autumn air. He marveled at how the damp smell of decaying, fallen leaves could pull life back into him, even when—more and more with each passing day—his body repelled it.

He set out again. People in suits bustled past, offering their pardons as they went. None of them gave him a second glance.

Probably for the best.

Benjamin touched the brim of his well-worn leather fedora with each extended social grace, always carrying on. Soon, stone monuments began to appear at regular intervals beyond the fence.

The shiny, polished granite ones seemed almost alive, shimmering in the sunlight like torches. They offered a shivering soul some comfort, just as a flashing, neon OPEN sign might soothe the spirit of a road-weary traveler. Conversely, the marble ones jutted out of the earth like sun-bleached bones. They stole the warmth of the world with a sort of stoic greediness, taking great pride in being cold, and changeless in the light.

Mine will be granite.

Uplifted by the thought, his pace quickened. But each heavy marker he saw added a weight to his heart. Puddles at his feet reflected not only his face, but also the translucent face of the ghost he would soon visit.

Benjamin’s steps slowed, his thoughts turning murky and thick, until at last the burden threatened to overcome him. He stopped to mop his brow with his handkerchief—or maybe fall to his knees and declare himself used up—when he spotted a yawning break in the fence ahead.

Two snarling stone lions guarded the entrance. A jowly, middle-aged priest stood between them. The man glared at his watch, deep worry lines creasing his brow.

“Are you here for the service?” The priest forced an impatient smile as Benjamin ambled up.

“Yes,” Benjamin said.

He waited for the priest to look at him properly, and for the shock that would undoubtedly follow.

“You’re just in time then. I was about to­—”

The priest looked toward the graveyard, and back to Benjamin, his face gone paler than the clerical collar around his throat.

Benjamin smiled, and held out his hand. “I’m Benjamin. Charlie’s twin brother.”

***

Hope you enjoyed! I'll talk more about my inspiration for the piece, etc. later this week in my IWSG post, of course. :-) Until then, please hop to the other participants and and give them your encouragement (and wish Nick luck on his endeavor, too).

1.	Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh	2.	E Louise Bates
3.	David Powers King	4.	Hilary at Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
5.	Getting Past The Fist	6.	Denise Covey, LAussie
7.	Bards and Prophets	8.	Leigh Covington
9.	Tyreans Writing Spot	10.	Livia Peterson
11.	Christine Rains	12.	Meradeths Write Stuff
13.	Donna Hole	14.	Michael Pierce
15.	Nicole Singer-Write Me A World	16.	Elise Fallson
17.	Carrie Butler @ SYAW	18.	Tobi Summers - Chock Full of Words
19.	tara tyler	20.	DL Hammons @ Cruising Altitude 2.0
21.	Empty Nest Insider	22.	PK HREZO
23.	C.M. Brown	24.	Clare Dugmore Writes
25.	Kathy- Imagine Today	26.	Tangent Shell
27.	The Open Vein - E.J. Wesley	28.	Mina Burrows
29.	Use Your Words...	30.	Ilima Todd
31.	Carrie-Annes Magick Theatre	32.	Kelley Lynn
33.	J. A. Bennett, A Writers Journey	34.	Melissa Maygrove
35.	Trisha @ WORD STUFF	36.	Damyanti@Amlokiblogs
37.	Candilynn Fite	38.	Michelle @ Writer~In~Transit
39.	Kittie Howard	40.	Mary Pax
41.	Misadventures in Candyland	42.	Krista McLaughlin
43.	Writing Off the Edge	44.	Read is the New Black
45.	Elsie Is Writing	46.	Stina Lindenblatt
47.	The Eagles Aerial Perspective	48.	Breakthrough Blogs
49.	Lara Schiffbauer	50.	I had a little nut-tree...
51.	J.L. Campbell	52.	Samantha May: Writing Through College
53.	One Magic Bean Buyer	54.	Brooke R. Busse
55.	Writers Block	56.	Justine Dell
57.	Father Dragon Writes	58.	The Kelworth Files
59.	WRITING IN THE CROSSHAIRS	60.	Dreaming of publication
61.	In Between - Adriana Dascalu

~EJW~

I'm Going On Tour! Who's Coming With Me?

Hey gang! Hope this post finds you all better than well. Thanks to everyone who left encouraging words for the authors who've been visiting my blog of late. I know it means a lot to them.

As many of you probably know, I released a new story (Witch's Nocturne) in December. *confetti and hangovers* I've done some blog touring already to celebrate, but mostly on the blogs of people I know well. (You all! Thank you! Thank You! ... just in case I haven't told you so enough.) Now it's time for me to REALLY hit the road, and I hope some you will join me.

Here's where I'm going (and when)

2/4 Books and Things ~ Blood Fugue FREE for Kindle Day!
2/5 Missy's Reads and Reviews
2/6 Jessie's Book Place
2/7 Kaidan's Seduction
2/7 Lost in Books
2/8 Bookhounds
2/11 Far From Reality
2/11 Defiantly Deviant
2/12 Words Create Scenes
2/13 Lovely Reads
2/14 Deal Sharing Aunt
2/15 Free Ebooks Daily ~ Blood Fugue FREE for Kindle Day!
2/15 Candace's Book Blog (My tour organizer ... she rocks!)
2/18 Bookhounds ~ Blood Fugue FREE for Kindle Day!
2/19 Girl With a Laptop and Books
2/20 Love is Not a Triangle
2/21 Buried in Books
2/22 Curling Up With a Good Book
2/25 Paperback Princess
2/26 Book Loving Mom
2/27 Amethyst Daydreams
2/28 The (Mis) Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl
3/1 Oh Chrys!
3/1 For the Love of Film and Novels
3/2 JC's Book Haven
3/4 Pages of Forbidden Love
3/4 Crazy Four Books

You'll notice that the fist story in the Moonsongs series, Blood Fugue, will be free on Amazon February 4th, 15th, and 18th. So if you haven't had a chance to read it yet, I'd greatly appreciate you snagging a copy--on me, of course. :-)

ALSO, as my loyal blog-friends, I want to make sure you know about the giveaways I'm doing in conjunction with the tour. 

I've gotten my hands on some fabulous signed books (including Capitol Hell by Jayne J. Jones & Alicia M. Long, Soul Screamers, Vol. 1 by Rachel Vincent, and John Green's mega-hit, The Fault in Our Stars ... pics below). They'll all go to one lucky winner (US only). 

I'll also be giving away 2 $15 gift certs to Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Lastly, for my international friends only, $20 toward a Book Depository purchase. 

The Rafflecopter is at the bottom of this post, and will go live the first day of the tour. Be sure to come back here and enter, or better still, visit one of the tour stops and enter. (There'll be several ways for you to enter, I believe.)

One final favor to ask: Would you consider sharing my tour banner on your blog (if you do such things)? Clicking it will send your folks to this blog. I'd truly appreciate it, and am always glad to return the favor if you ever have a need. Truly just ask.

Here's the html for the banner:

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">

<a href="http://the-open-vein-ejwesley.blogspot.com/2013/01/im-going-on-tour-whos-coming-with-me.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8hKfldbi5Dpk8zRuhnM8HzpzxDMRPcAhAkwR9Ph0hjjBsIqseoBQOpI7DhLGMIDxy_5B7cM-FYY4K7-3n2lRm1qz7HM_C685cD86fnyRGr3YX-9mZ_z1tPqQSEOfAmuo1rWaG5myJx4/s320/moonsong.png" width="320" /></a></div>

<br />

I think that's it! I've done a mix of interviews, excerpts, etc. for the various tour stops. And most will be reviewing my work *gulp*, so  each stop should be a new brand of fun. 

Hope you'll join me!

~EJW~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Holidays!

First, a holiday wish ...

Hey gang! I've had so much to be thankful for this year. I've had stories published, made friends, have a loving family, afforded good health--and received lots of support and companionship from my blogging buddies. 

My mother and father taught me long ago that you're only as good as the company you keep. And though I'm certainly biased, I think I'm surrounded by some of the finest writers and bloggers out there.

For that reason, I sincerely hope that peace and love surround you this Season, and in 2013 may your goals be achieved, your dreams lived, and your hearts be full. Always.

Second, that publishing 'stuff' ... and something free

Speaking of stories published, my second is now available. You'll find all the details in the 'official announcement' below, but first ...

To celebrate the season of giving, the first book in the Moonsongs series, Blood Fugue, will be available for free on Amazon Christmas Day and the day after. If you haven't had a chance to read it, I'd be honored if you'd check it out. Here's the link. Again, it'll be free a week from today and yesterday.

~Description~

After receiving an ancient tribal journal from her grandfather, Jenny is sent on a mission of discovery in an attempt to unravel clues to her family's monster hunting past. The journey becomes more than academic when she is asked to confront a coven of dangerous witches who plan to cast an insidious spell on the plains of West Texas. 

Witch's Nocturne is the second of the Moonsongs Books, a series of New Adult, paranormal-horror-action novelettes--with a Texas twist--by author E.J. Wesley. 

~Excerpt~

My fingers tapped out an excited, tuneless rhythm on the steering wheel as I drove Beauty, my licorice black 4x4 truck, across town. Maybe the sudden change in the weather and the influx of warm, November sunshine brightened the gorgeous day and my spirits in equal measure. Or maybe, God help me, I was happy to be on my way to see Marshal again. Regardless, I couldn’t recall the last time a day held so much hope, like I’d been given a cheat code for infinite possibilities.

“How’s life?” Marshal asked, foisting himself into the cab of the truck.

He placed a brown, leather satchel between his feet on the floorboard. Marshal stared at me over the top of a pair of oversized, mirrored sunglasses. Combined with the plaid shorts, flip flops and pink polo shirt with a crocodile on it, he appeared to be beach ready. Or headed to a photo shoot for a store I wouldn’t be caught dead in.

“Fast.” I grinned and revved the engine.

He gave me a worried look, rushing to buckle his seatbelt. “You can’t afford another ticket.”

“Relax, Mr. Public Safety. I was kidding. Mostly. Where we headed?”

He patted the saddlebag between his legs. “I’ve gone through everything in here fifty times and have more questions than when I started. I wanted to go to the college library, try to learn more about your grandfather's tribe. Find some language books.” “So, we go to the library and learn about the tribe and the journal. Shouldn't be too hard. Texas is chock full of Native American history. I imagine there'll be lots of stuff on the Apache at a big university.”

Marshal shook his head, his spiky blond hair staying perfectly still.

“It won’t be that easy. Apache was a catchall term given to several tribes. They were nomads. Historians had a devil of a time trying to keep track of any one group—not to mention they weren't exactly friendly to outsiders. The name Apache was given to most of the warring, wandering tribes in the area.”

“Knew my cuddly personality couldn’t be all my own doing. How’ll we know which specific tribe Gramps belonged to?”

I turned onto the state highway that would lead us to Lubbock. It'd take us about an hour to get there, assuming there was no traffic. By traffic I meant some old farmer taking up both lanes of the highway with his tractor.

Marshal pulled the journal from the bag and flipped open the front cover. He held the book up, pointing to the inside corner.

“I think it's this.”

The word Navezgane had been branded into the leather.

“Cool. Wonder what it means?”

I started to make a joke about the word hopefully not translating to Squats-in-Woods or something. One glance at Marshal’s troubled face told me I was going to like the real name a lot less. 

“I looked it up online. The word means killer of monsters.”

***

~Witch's Nocturne is available now~

Amazon     Smashwords (ePub & PDF)

***

~Blood Fugue, Moonsongs Book 1, is also available~

Amazon (Free to borrow for Amazon Prime members.)

(Note: These stories contain some language and content better suited for mature readers.)

Help Me Spread A Little Holiday Fear ... And Win Stuff

**UPDATE** Signup and giveaway are over. Thanks to everyone who got involved. 'See' you in 2013! ~EJ

Hey gang! Today I'd like to officially announce that the 2nd of my Moonsongs books, Witch's Nocturne, will be hitting virtual shelves next week. I'd also like to enlist your help. But first, a little bit about the story ...

If you've read the first book in the series, Blood Fugue, you'll pick right up with Jenny's story. 

After receiving an ancient tribal journal from her grandfather, Jenny is sent on a mission of discovery in an attempt to unravel clues to her family's monster hunting past. The journey becomes more than academic, however, when she is asked to confront a coven of dangerous witches who plan to cast an insidious spell on the plains of West Texas. Once again, it's up to Jenny and her best friend Marshal to navigate this dangerous new world of monsters and paranormal shenanigans--all in less than 17 k words! (Moonsongs is a series of novelettes.) 

That translates to what I hope is a fun, fast-paced adventure with some chills, thrills, and more than a little of Jenny's standard snarky toughness. I'm really proud of this effort, and hope it shows in the writing.

If you're new to the series, you'll quickly find your place, but feel free to check out Blood Fugue on Amazon (.99 cents, or free to read for Amazon Prime members). Also check out the 'My Books' page on this blog for more details on both stories. (Note: these stories contain language and material best suited for mature readers.)

You can add Witch's Nocturne to your Goodreads list, HERE.

Help Me Spread A Little Holiday Cheer Fear, Get a Free Copy of Witch's Nocturne, AND Maybe Win Stuff 

Here's where you fine folks come in. I'd love it if you all could help me share the announcement/release news throughout the last week of December and first week of January. 

I know it's a crazy, busy holiday time, so I'll provide you with all the information you need to post-and-go. Then, you basically pick any day you want between December 23 and January 6 to share on your blogs. Simple.

Everyone who signs up will get a digital ARC of Witch's Nocturne. (If you enjoy and have time, please leave a review--literally anywhere--when it goes 'live' next week.) PLUS, I'll enter your name into a drawing for a $10 Amazon or Barnes & Noble (your choice) gift certificate, AND I'll be giving one lucky participant an autographed copy of Amanda Hocking's latest novel, Lullaby (A Watersong Novel), that I recently procured. You can check out Lullaby here, and here are some shiny pics of the autograph and book: 

Cool, right? Just fill out the web form below, and I'll eMail you the details for the post in the next few days. 

This goes without saying, but my debt of gratitude to those who help is endless. I know many of you would help without the lure of prizes, etc. (because you do all the time) but it's a small thing I can offer to at least a couple of you to say 'thank you' for all of your continued support and encouragement.

Now, wish me luck! :-)

Trusting the Process

Hey gang! What a wild/fun week I had last week. We went to the Mouse House in Orlando, got up close and personal with Harry Potter, and drank our share of the butterbeer (think sugary cream soda with a SUPER sugary cream topping ... yeah, it's that bad for you, and that awesome).

Enjoying a cold drink in the Hog's Head Tavern- No, that's not butterbeer. ;-)

Anyway, I'm back (physically at least) and ready to make the final push towards the publication of the second Moonsongs book. With a little luck, it'll be out in December. And I'm totally not bragging here, but I'm very excited for people to read it. I think the story is bigger, and in some ways better, than the first. 

Jenny (the mc) is really beginning to stretch her legs as a character. She gets pulled deeper into the supernatural world her tribal ancestors have fought against for so many generations, and learns that not all of the scary things out there want to eat you--some just want you dead. Plus, there are witches, both cool and evil. 

Basically, there's just a lot going on, and I think it'll be a fun ride for folks who enjoy True Blood-esque adventures. I've had a blast crafting it, that's for sure.

TRUSTING THE PROCESS

Photo credit to Lynn Kelley, WANA Commons 

But now it's time for the final polish. That means applying editorial feedback. Some of which is quite straightforward, and pretty painless. Change this word, rearrange that sentence, etc. But some of the changes aren't so easy to execute...

I always try to make sure my stories go into the 'editor' phase as polished as I can make them. That's for two reasons: 1) I don't want to purposefully make my editor take up drinking if they don't already. 2) It translates to less work for me on the other side.

What does sending it in as polished as possible mean for me? Typically 3 drafts pre-beta/critter work overs, and 1 to 2 more post beta/critter. And sometimes, if the beta/critter feedback results in major changes, it might go into another round of beta/critter--and more drafts follow. THEN it goes to the editor. 

Sounds like a lot right? IT IS! But I'm someone who likes to feel confident about something before moving onto the next stage. For me to feel confident in a piece of writing, I need to hear from several different perspectives that I've essentially captured what I set out to do with a particular story. 

These Moonsongs stories are a bit of a different beast, because they're novelettes--which translates to 'longer than a short story, shorter than a novella'. So a big part of my objective is that the plots stay tight, and the pacing zips. I want them to be a movie-like experience. Something you can enjoy in 2-4 hours, and feel that you've been entertained when you finish. 

That's where the editor really pays off. 

Story # 2 has been through multiple critters. While none of them said it was perfect, the feedback was 99% great, and I addressed nearly every quibble the critters had in rewrites prior to sending it off to the editor. 

That's the point where you begin to think--no matter how many times you've been through this process and know better--"I've done it! This is a great story as is." You can't help it. You love your critters. You've read their work, and trust them implicitly. Furthermore, you're really beginning to love the story again. (Trust me, you hate the dang thing at several points during this cycle.) 

Trusting the process is oh so important at this juncture. When those edits come back, and you see the number of things you've missed--or just screwed up--in your 'great story' it feels like starting over in some ways. (But you're totally not!)

You might even be tempted to cross your arms and say, "Bah, readers already like it. Why should I chop out two pages of the opening scene for the sake of pacing?"

The answer is simple: Because you want the story to be everything you dreamt it COULD be. The only chance you have of doing that is making it as tight as possible. That means heeding your editor's advice, listening to your critter complaints, and doing 2 more drafts beyond the last draft you vowed you'd ever do. 

It can be disheartening. It can be fantastic. But it's all part of the process, and that you have to trust.

~EJW~

Bury the Hatchet Winners AND Hale Maree Cover Reveal

Hey gang! Lots of good news to share today, so I'll get right to it ...

Bury the Hatchet Giveaway Winners

First, everyone who participated in the blogfest, giveaway shenanigans, etc.: YOU ARE UNBELIEVABLY COOL! If we ever meet at a writing conference or something just say, "Hey, I took part in your Bury the Hatchet thingy" and the drink and/or coffee is on me. 

Seriously, it meant so much to have so many of you jump in and share Blood Fugue on your blogs, tweets, and the like. I know, there were prizes to be had, but many of you have helped me out in the past without even being asked (or poked with sharp things), so I know you would've done it regardless. 

So I'll end this with: I appreciate it, and I'll happily return the favor if you ever have a need. Now for the winners ...

Two $10 Barnes & Noble Gift Cards:

Hart Johnson
Shannon Lawrence

Four 4 GB, custom painted USB drives:

Michael Di Gesu
Siv Ottem
Brinda Berry
Julie Flanders

GRAND PRIZE - One Nook SimpleTouch with GlowLight:

Melissa Maygrove

Congrats to all! I've been in touch with all of you, and heard back, so your prizes will be forthcoming.

Hale Maree Cover Reveal

Such a fantastic cover, right?

Couldn't be more excited to share the cover for author Misty Provencher's NA debut, Hale Maree. Misty is no stranger to this blog, and me being the New Adult cheerleader that I am, I was thrilled to hear she is venturing into NA (though she'll still write YA, I'm sure). Plus, the story just sounds dang-amazing (at least that's how I'd put it in Texas terms):

Hale Simmons dreams of climbing out of her impoverished life, going to college, and getting herself a titanium crash helmet, so she can eventually bust through the Plexiglas ceiling of her crappy life. But for now, she’s just a 17-year-old girl with a flimsy hope, barely getting by with her alcoholic father, Jerry.

But for Hale, ‘crappy’ suddenly takes a nosedive, when Jerry becomes the sole witness to a horrible accident. It is an event which means to effect everyone, especially Hale, who wasn’t even involved.

While the depth of the accident has just begun to unfold, Otto Maree, a prominent business man and old family friend, stands to lose everything because of it. Otto is desperate for Hale’s father to stay quiet about what occurred the night the two men met for a drink. Out of mutual moments of desperation, the two fathers forge a deal. Jerry is desperate to gain financial stability for both himself and Hale, and Otto Maree is more than willing to pay to keep his secret just that.

But deals like this need to be made of the strongest vows and bound with the most faithful of loyalties. Otto proposes a marriage between Hale and his playboy-son, Oscar, in order to assure that the secret remains ‘in the family’. The mystery surrounding the accident continues to grow and Hale struggles against her own mysterious feelings that begin to develop for Oscar, who turns out to less of a playboy, but just as fiercely loyal and dedicated as his father.

As the pressures around her continues to escalate, Hale realizes that she’s got to decide if this arranged marriage is really just a big mistake or an amazing twist of fate, that has been waiting around for this particular accident to happen.

You'll be able to read Hale Maree this Holiday season...

As I mentioned above, Misty is also the author of the YA para-rom Cornerstone series:

CORNERSTONE is the story of Nalena Maxwell,
a girl who receives the wrong dang sign of an ancient
community that is responsible for maintaining the intellectual
evolution of the human race. And if the choices coming aren't
tough enough, there's a boy...one with liquid blue eyes...that
understands exactly who and what Nalena is.
Cornerstone & Keystone, the second book in the Cornerstone Series, are now Available in paperback and ebook at: 

Barnes & Noble Amazon Smashwords

~EJW~

Fraud Warning

Hey gang! Hope you all had great weekends. Mine was awesome, thanks in part to a heavy dose of cool and wet weather. (Don't get a lot of that here in South Texas...)

Thanks to everyone who made the author interviewees feel welcome last week! Had a lot of fun chatting with the two ladies, and hope some of that energy came through in the interviews. If you missed them, we had one rock & roller and one that was solid stone. 

Bury the Hatchet Blogfest & Giveaway UPDATE

Also, thanks to everyone participating in the Bury the Hatchet blogfest. I've read some really funny entries so far. (Who doesn't hate bathroom hand dryers?) The blogfest runs through the 19th of October, so there's still plenty of time to enter (and enter the giveaway). To make the blogfest easier to join, I've created a regular, link signup. (Think the Rafflecopter thing was a tad confusing for the actual blogfest.) You'll see the signup above, be sure to check the original post (link above this post, and the button to the right) for the details on participation.

New Adult Lit Twitter Chat Update (#NALitChat)

As many of you know, I host a weekly Twitter discussion on New Adult literature. We've been at it for a couple of months now, and I'm proud to say it is still going strong. If you've ever been curious about what comes after YA (for readers and writers), I think this chat is an entertaining 'must' for your week. It happens every Thursday night, 9 PM EST on the Twitters. Just search for, and use in your Tweets, #NALitChat --

This week will be a perfect jumping in point, as we're going to open it up to Q & A. There are lots of fabulous NA authors taking part every week (specifically, the chat is moderated by the ladies of the NA Alley Blog), and they're the perfect resource for getting your New Adult knowledge on. 

You can keep up with the chat goings-ons (as well as find transcripts of previous chats) over at the NA Lit Chat Blog. 

Weekly Good News!

Author Chantele Sedgwick is doing a massive blog tour to celebrate the release of her YA novel Not Your Average Fairy Tale. I believe she's giving away a Kindle--and myriad other awesome prizes--as part of the tour. Be sure to check her blog for the details and a list of stops.

Here's a little about NYAFT (via Amazon product description):

"Ash Summerland has it all–good looks, popularity, and the best grades at The Academy of Magical Beings. Ready to complete his last assignment in order to graduate, Ash is confident he will get the apprenticeship he wants. 

When he opens the letter from the Council, he is shocked to discover he has been assigned to apprentice Lady Shenelle, Keeper of Happy Endings. A.K.A. the head fairy godmother. Ash is forced to grant three wishes to a troubled human girl named Kendall, and ultimately give her a "happy ever after".

But Kendall turns out to be more than he bargained for. Still grieving over her father's death, Kendall doesn't want anything to do with him. And worst of all, she doesn't believe in happy endings."

You can snag a copy HERE. 

Want me to share your good news? (I'd sincerely love to!) Shoot me an eMail with the details at jezzell19 AT gmail DOT com and I'll try to get it into an upcoming post.

Fraud Warning

Photo courtesy of Lynn Kelley WANA Commons

A few weeks ago, I was reading a blog post from an author I keep up with, and she wrote about feeling like a fraud. It's a common feeling, one I believe almost every writer goes through. But also one very few talk about. So I decided to give it a go ...

The author/blogger who inspired this post certainly isn't a fraud. She is a former editor, she has an agent, she's been through the revision spin-cycle--in short, she's a veteran in the 'aspiring author' war. In our circle, she has accomplished a lot.

But our circle is a little ... different.

Our circle is full of fidgety, computer-blind book nerds. Our circle builds entire careers on things that never actually happen. Our circle believes in nebulous terms like 'muse' and 'process'. Our circle sees the complexity in seemingly simple assertions. Example: 

"That story was cute, and read very quickly," says our non-writer friend of her most recent read. 

To which we reply, "It probably took the author three years, an ulcer, loss of friendship, and financial ruin for you to be able to read it one sitting. But being labeled 'cute' is all the encouragement they'll need to write another fifteen stories." 

Did I mention our circle is full of masochists?

Ultimately, it's pretty easy to understand why a writer might feel less than 'real'. We dither away hours, days, and weeks on things we'll likely chuck out at some point. We look for signs of success like gypsy fortunetellers mucking through tea leaves for answers, often dismissing rational conclusions for a glimpse out our potential. 

"The agent hand wrote 'keep trying' on the form rejection! I'm getting so close now!"

Everyone around us seems to be doing what we're doing, but they're all better at it. We scrap two years for 100 blog followers, but that other guy with the genius blogfest idea has 300 in his first 6 months. We tweet 50 times an hour to 10 followers, Mike Tyson tweets 10 times a year to 50 million followers.

And the funny thing is, it doesn't really end after you publish something. If anything, I feel even less adequate now, and even more fraudulent. Everyone is better at marketing. My friends who once encouraged me are now scrutinizing me. My granny said she read my story, but hasn't taken my phone calls in two weeks. Basically, it feels like I'm far better at pissing people off than drawing them in. Which isn't really the goal when you publish something...

At least I can offer a 'link' to something I've written now when people ask about what I write, but most days I'd rather talk about sports, music, movies, and other people's books. In the end, I still feel like I'm pretending to be a writer. Just making it up as I go.

Then I write. That's when I realize what's real and what isn't. Real is feeling in control of my words. Real is pushing myself to be better with each paragraph. Real is working at a story, often for months, until I think it'll entertain a stranger as much as it entertains me. Real is being willing to throw it all away if it doesn't. Real is the passion I feel in expression. Real is being brave enough to share what I write.

So, as I've said before on this blog, keep writing. For a writer, I truly believe it's the only way to combat the feelings of being less than what we appear, and the key to actually being more.

~EJW~ 

I'm An Author! Let's Bury the Hatchet!

THE BLOGFEST & GIVEAWAY HAVE ENDED. WINNERS ANNOUNCED SOON, THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING! ~EJW~
Oh my goodness, Gang! The day has finally come! Blood Fugue is officially out in the world, and I want to celebrate with my favorite people, in a BIG way. (Below.) 

You can get the story for a whopping .99 US (that's like half a Starbucks' coffee, incidentally, and if we ever meet in person I'll buy you a real coffee to reimburse the expense :-) at any of the following: Smashwords, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble and most other eBook retailers. 

Now for the fun part!

E.J. Wesley's Bury The Hatchet Blogfest

Jenny, Blood Fugue's leading lady, is a young woman with old heartaches. She really struggles with making peace with her past. All she has truly known about her family is death and detachment. The beginning of Blood Fugue changes all that...

Being a woman of action, Jenny aims to reconcile the bad hand she's been dealt the only way she knows how: By literally burying a hatchet in the thing she is struggling with.

The idea for the blogfest is simple: We all have something, or someone, we'd like to bury the hatchet in (Jenny style). Maybe it's rush-hour traffic, maybe it's Christmas decorations in stores in September, maybe it's the spammer leaving those stupid "My am enjoying your immense blogging pleasure and would like you to look at my site." messages--who, or what, ever works. 

To take part in the blogfest, post (short or long) about it. Then include the following in the post: (THE HTML VERSION IS IN THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM. You can also sign up for the blofest in the link-thing below. If you do participate in the blogfest, be sure to enter via the Rafflecopter. You might win!)

***

Author E.J. Wesley is launching his latest title, BLOOD FUGUE, and wants you to help him celebrate! Check out his blog The Open Vein for details on how to take part, and how to enter for a chance to win some sweet prizes!

What's BLOOD FUGUE about?

Armed only with an ancient family journal, her rifle, and an Apache tomahawk, Jenny must save her grandfather’s life and embrace her dangerous heritage. Or be devoured by it. Blood Fugue, by E.J. Wesley, is the first of the Moonsongs books, a series of paranormal-action novelettes.

BLOOD FUGUE is available now via Smashwords, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble and most other eBook retailers. Check out the author on Goodreads! 

***

That's it! Feel free to snag the blogfest button up above, and post it on your blog. The blogfest is open now, and you can participate at any point between September 21 and October 19 (you pick the day/time that fits your blog schedule). And there will be prizes, oh yes. More on that in a sec ...

I'm not encouraging actual carnage, by the way. Think of this as a therapeutic exercise in releasing your frustrations, one imaginary swing of the ax at a time. :-)

The Contest & Prizes

I'm pretty new to Goodreads (as an author) and Facebook. Consequently, I'd really like to connect with all of my blog pals on those sites. Plus, I'd love to have your help spreading the word about the story. That's where the contest comes in.

You can check the Rafflecopter for the various ways you can enter for a chance at the prizes. You get more entries for the more involved things (participating in the blogfest gets you the most, connecting with me on Goodreads second most, then Tweeting, etc.). I think all of them are pretty straightforward. NOTE: You can comeback and Tweet once each day for extra entries.

What can you win? Check it! (Check the Rafflecopter for limitations, rules, etc.)

GRAND PRIZE: Nook Simple Touch eReader with Glow Light

We have four (or so) Simple Touch readers in my extended family, and I will tell you it's one of the best pure readers going. Light, sexy, simple to use. The newest Nook ST with Glow Light improves on the design be incorporating a subtle, built in light for the bedtime readers (like me). If you're interested in a great reading experience, this little device is it. And I'm giving one away!

SECOND PRIZE: Hand-painted USB thumb-drives

In the spirit of Blood Fugue, and Jenny's heritage, I decided to create some custom jump drives with a little Native American flair. And, I'm going to ship them in their very own coffin case. Because, like Jenny learns, we can sometimes find life in death.

I'm still putting the final touches on them (the paint needs to dry in stages for some of the detail), but here's a look at two of the designs, and the case:

I'll be giving away 4 drives in total, each with a unique design. They're 4 GB each, so they'll hold plenty of manuscripts--er, I mean photos. :-) Check back with the blog in the coming weeks, as I'll post pics of the other drives as a I finish them.  

THIRD PRIZE: $10 Barnes & Noble Gift Cards

What it says, I'll give two lucky winners ten bones each to purchase whatever, like ten copies of Blood Fugue. (I kid! Mostly...)

That's the booty! The blogfest, and contest, will remain open for the first half of October, (ends 10/19--4 weeks from today, I think). The winners will be selected at random from the Rafflecopter entries, and notified via this blog and eMail (probably Facebook, too).

In closing, I want to say that a big part of this 'contest' is me saying a big, fat THANKS to all of my long-time blog friends. Yes, I'd love to have help in getting the word out about Blood Fugue, and a  carrot never hurts, but many of you have supported me for years, and I'd love to be able to give back something awesome in return.

Best of luck to all of the entrants, and thank you for all that you do!

Now, wish me (and Blood Fugue) luck! If you do happen to read it, and care to leave an honest review at any of the reviewable sites, I'd appreciate it a ton.

Blogfest sign-up:

The Rafflecopter is below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway